The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-08-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for August
28-" Piety Without
Display"

slant may DO found IN the first fifteen verses
OF the sixth chapter or Matthew. lime, sum
mer Of A d. - Place, Mount OF Beautudes
SPECIAL MENTION.
Ahns-giVing. Aims here r'eans acts Of kind
ness To the poor the giving OF money, food,
clothing, or any sucn supply 10 the destitute
The history OF the WORD ~alms" Is slngularIy
interesting In the original meaning OF the
creek 1t was the quality OF mercy The prac-
tice Of the HellcnIstlc Jews limited The word
(eteeDoSynd) TO money-gfts. IL passed with
THIS meaning into European languages IN va
rious forms, -sumone, ~slmose, and at last
tie wor1 OF SIX sy.labes and rich fulness OF
meaning contracts and collapses into our
modern English aims" Ellicott) Aims
giving is abundanty enforced as a religious
uuty both III the Old and the New Testaments.
(AbDotL) Whilst you can not argue the gen.
ulneness of a mans religion from the fact Of
his alms-glving, because the hypocrite gives
-alms, you can argue the worthlessness OF
mans religion from the neglect of his aims
giving. Clhomas.) Alms-giylng was held IN
high honor among the Jewish people. At
their feasts they never forgot the poor Esther
TX. ~ BY poet and prophet the virtue was
accounted as good evidence of genuine piety
psalm xii u, and this was why il was APP
propriated by the Pharisees. (Stand, EccL
Comm
SCRIPTURE POSTURE IN PRAYER
Three postures IN prayer are mentioned in
Scripture: Standing q sam. l: 26; Mark IL
%; Luke IS: IL, -; kneel,ng G. Chron. d: -;
D .
50: Il: 81; and, in cases of peculiar awe and
distress, prostitution OF Tie face (Num. IL: ~;
Josh. 3: IA; Dan. 5: Il; Matt 70: 50; Rev.
| ll:l6l Standing being therefore a common
posture II IS PLAIN that this formed no part
| OF the display, which consisted in choosing
the most pubic places to parade their devo-
/ tons. (Broadus.)
The Lords Prayer In the Lords Prayer
We have a revelation of God, as l. Father.
2. Highly exalted B. Holy King 5
ProvIder q. Forgiven. = Delverer. 8
Sovereign. Almighty 10 Glorious H.
Eternal
We have also in this prayer revelation of
man, as /. child OF God; 2. Belonging to
great fraternity; ) Related to the heavens; t.
With moral nature capable of recognizing
the holiness of God; .. A subject of the d.
vine kingdom; o. Having an interest in the
divine kingdom in the earth; Z. Dependent
for daily food; s Guilty and III need OF par
don; 8 Exposed to temptation and evil.
We have also the ideal earth: |. The home of
devout and affectionate brotherhood; >
Pure with the holiness of hearts that honor
God; 3. Like heaven, its inhabitants render
ing prompt, glad, cheerful, and perfect ODE
dlence; l. Its needs supplied by bountiful
provider; >. Its inhabitants forgiven and
loving; D. temptations forever removed; T.
The plains and mountains and seas and
cities filled with the power and glory of
Coos everlasting kingdom (Vincent) A
pattern or specimen or the true form of
Christian prayer Is gwen; hence other pray
ers are not only allowed but required. Two
forms OF this prayer exist (See Luke XII 2-4).
(Scnaf.) In this prayer our Lord shows hIs
disciples how al Infinite variety of wants and
requests can be compressed into a few hum
Bile petitions 1t embJdies every possible de-.
sire OF praying heart, whole world oi
spiritual requirements, Yet all in the most
simple, condensed, and humble form, re-
sembllng, in this respect, pearl on which
the light of heaven plays. Qange.) This
prayer contains four great general sentiments,
which constitute the very soul Of religion,
sentiments which are the germs of all holy
deeds in all worlds. First, flial reverence.
God IL addressed not as the great unknown,
not as the unsearchable governor, but
as father, the most ineligible, at
tractlye, and transforming name Second
ly, divine loyalty. Thy kingdom come
Thirdly, conscious dependence Give us
this day." etc. Fourthly, unbounded conf
dence. For thine is the power" eto @lhis
prayer, as indeed every prayer, is letter
from earth TO heaven. Here is the nscrip-
ton, Our Father; tho place. III heaven; the
contents, IN the several errands; the close,
for thine is the kingdom; the SEAL Amen.
and II you will, the date, too, tins day.
Matthew Henryl 1t is form to be deyoutly
used on proper occasions, and perfect pat
tern which could only proceed from the lips
of ths Son OF God (Schaff.j 1t may often
be better, it undoubtedly is} proper TO use
the very words, but il is not always necessary,
tor we do not find that the apostles thus used
1t; but we ought always TO pray after the
manner OF it-that is with that reverence,
humility, seriousness, confidence in God,
zeal for his glory, love TO mankind submis-
sion, aud meditation in temporal and ear
mes tness about spiritual things which it
inculcates q. SCOTT See also Lukes
account OF this drayer, Luke IL: l.
CONNECTING LINK.
Christ corrects other false interpretations
of the law, aud shows how much higher was
the standard of morality that he incucated
than that which had hitherto been taught and
practiced He gives as an example Cd that
of the law against adultery; (2 the law
against swearing Tvs $3.50; t:9 the law Of
retaliation US. 3S-ID; a. the law regulating
our relations with enemies Tvs. 434O The
forty-eghth verse Is the summing up Of the
part OF the sermon on the mount which Is
contained in this and the preceding lesson.
1t j. the component Of W. 1920, and shows
how the Jaw Is fulfillel in Christ; and, in
dee /, ii is the summing-uD Of the whole law
as given by Moses IN the Ten Commandments,
and interpreted by Christ both by his teach
ing and example. (Peloubet)
MECHANICAL AND PROFESSIONAL RELIGION
VS.. 81 When ys prdy. Assuming that
this was their habit. stand and pray For
greater display See Special Mention. Syn
agogUeS Always open for purposes of prayer.
CO,J3trS. Conspicuous places Hare receiged
their rcCdrd Have it in full; with no pros
pect OF any to como later. Thou. Again III
marked contrast Inner chamber. Wherever
they might have a retired and secret place,
]
closet was n feel Gen. "a: 50; Davids closet
was his bed-chamber (Ps. 4: I; - 81; our
LqId's closet was mountain Matt IL: 81 I;
Peers closet was housetop tActs 10: ~ !"
Shirt ny door, Guarding against publicity
and Intrusion Pray 10 my Father. Not 10
self or to man. Vain reDeiHioRS Literally
babble not, or stammer not See ! HI Is: 26 +;
Acts -. ~ This does not discourage much
praying duke q: ~, nor repetition IN prayer
Matt 26: ~, but VdiR repentions.
TOPIC AND OUTLINE
In this lesson we find two very important
duties, which really cover the whole religious
life. One looks toward man. the other toward
Go the one has references to being bless
ing 10 others, the other to receiving blessing
from God
CHRISTIAN GIVING AND PRAYING.
l. Christian giving ul should not be with
parade aud ost sntaton, for this Is hypocrit-
zeal, selfish, and foolish; and c9 should be
modest humble. without dlsp!ay, far such
giving is most acceptable most beneficial, and
houore1 OF God. In ali our giving there
should be less parade and more conscience
and cow cion; less giving because others do
or do not give, and more giving because God
asks it Then, too, If we give from the high
est motives, our action will have greatest and
best effect on others
, Christian PRAYING CD should avoid osten-
taton OF time, place, attitude, language; c9
should avoid meaningless forms AMI repeti-
| II. A., he all Co.